Jimmy Buffett Passed Away This Weekend
Summer is coming to a close, and sadly, it was our last with "Margaritaville" legend Jimmy Buffett.
Jimmy passed away on Friday at the age of 76. He'd been battling a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. He'd been fighting it for about four years.
His last show was a surprise appearance in Rhode Island in early July.
Jimmy was born on Christmas Day in 1946 down in Mississippi. He grew up in Alabama . . . but returned to attend the University of Southern Mississippi.
After graduating in 1969, he performed in the streets and bars of New Orleans... He became known as a FUN performer who didn't take himself too seriously.
His biggest hit, "Margaritaville," came out in 1977 . . . but around that time, he also put out "Come Monday," "Fins," "Volcano," "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Why Don't We Get Drunk," "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," and "Son of a Son of a Sailor."
Later in his career, he made a major mark on country music and shared in success with Alan Jackson ("It's Five O'Clock Somewhere") . . . Zac Brown Band ("Knee Deep") . . . and Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and George Strait ("Hey, Good Lookin'").
In addition to music, he launched a massive hospitality business around Margaritaville . . . became a best-selling author . . . and led a devoted fanbase of "Parrotheads." All that earned him a net worth of more than $1 BILLION.
Jimmy released more than 30 albums in his career, and a few weeks before his death, he was promoting an upcoming album called "Equal Strain on All Parts". It's unclear if that's still coming out.
Paul McCartney posted a long tribute online, where he said, quote, "Right up to the last minute his eyes still twinkled with a humor that said, 'I love this world and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.'"
Read More HERE
Smash Mouth Singer Steve Harwell Died Yesterday
Former Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell passed away yesterday. He was only 56. According to reports, he was in hospice care due to liver failure.
As you might know, Steve struggled with alcohol abuse for years. He also had heart problems. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2013.
Almost EVERYONE knows Smash Mouth's hit, "All-Star." It was in "Shrek," along with their Monkees cover of "I'm a Believer."
Their other hits include: "Walkin' on the Sun," "Then the Morning Comes," "Can't Get Enough of You Baby," and "Pacific Coast Party."
Steve started Smash Mouth back in 1994, and he was the lead singer until his retirement two years ago when he left due to ongoing physical and mental health issues.
Smash Mouth said in a statement quote, "Steve was a true American Original. He will be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom . . .
"And the fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable . . . Rest in peace knowing you aimed for the stars, and magically hit your target."
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Death Comes in Threes: "Dream Weaver" Singer Gary Wright Died Yesterday
Some say, "death comes in threes," and this weekend it did.
'70s singer Gary Wright passed away yesterday at the age of 80.
His son says Gary had been diagnosed with Parkinson's about five or six years ago . . . and since then, he has also suffered from Lewy body dementia.
Gary had some HUGE hits with "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" in 1976. A few other singles got a lot of airplay . . . including "Really Wanna Know You" in 1981. In 1991, "Dream Weaver" had a second life when Gary re-recorded it for "Wayne's World."
Gary performed live frequently as a member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, with his own live band, or with the British blues rock band Spooky Tooth.
Read More HERE